2-3 Hours

Have you just got your first film or digital (DSLR/mirrorless) camera and are struggling to get to grips with exactly how it works?

In three hours you will be given an in-depth and detailed overview of the principles underpinning the workings of cameras. You will learn how to focus accurately and understand and control the exposure control mechanisms. How you control and manipulate depth of field.

We will ensure that you understand the particular configuration of controls on your own camera, so that you leave with a new-found confidence in using it.

Dates and times are flexible for this so once you have paid, we will get in touch to arrange a time and date that suits.

2-3 Hours

Maximum of 4 participants.

Are you new to film photography and want to learn how to develop your own black and white film? This is the course for you. It assumes you have already shot your first roll of black and white film and want to develop and scan to digital files.

We will cover what chemicals are used and what each one does. Loading of your film into a daylight developing tank and then developing it. Once out of the tank, the film needs a little time to dry and then we will cut into strips, scan using a flatbed scanner and sleeve your negatives for archiving.

Tea, coffee, and biscuits are provided.

10am–3pm (30 minute lunch break)

Maximum 4 participants

Learn the essentials of traditional darkroom practice in this black and white darkroom workshop in Manchester, covering both film developing and photographic printing.

You’ll begin by developing a roll of black and white film that you have already shot, gaining a clear understanding of each stage of the process. After producing a contact sheet, you’ll select your favourite images to print.

Using a darkroom enlarger, you’ll create your own black and white prints, starting with focussing the engager, you will produce test strip(s) to establish exposure and then produce a series of finished prints on photographic paper.

Tea, coffee, and biscuits will be provided. Please bring your own lunch. Please wear old clothes.

All materials are included except film which you will have already shot.

9am-4pm (30 minute lunch)

Maximum 4 participants

Over the course of the day, we will shoot a roll of black and white film (35mm or medium format) in my studio and/or the surrounding area on a short photowalk before returning to the studio to develop our film. Once dry, we will head into the darkroom and create a contact sheet of images before selecting one to work on for a final print.

By the end of the day, you’ll leave with a developed roll of film, a contact sheet, test prints, and a final 10×8 print.

Tea, coffee, and biscuits will be provided. Pease bring your own lunch.
No prior experience is necessary. Materials include chemicals, paper and a roll of Ilford HP5 film.

You will need to bring your own 35mm or medium format camera for this workshop.

10am–12pm

Join our photogram workshop and explore the cameraless approach to analogue photography.

In this small-group darkroom photography workshop, you’ll learn how to work with light-sensitive paper under safelight conditions and create striking images without using a camera. Using a range of opaque, translucent, and transparent objects, you’ll compose and expose your own photograms using a darkroom enlarger.

You’ll then develop your prints using traditional photographic processes (developer, stop bath, and fixer), with guidance on refining exposure and improving your results.

Perfect for beginners, this photogram workshop requires no prior experience. All materials are included, with 6 sheets of photographic paper provided.

Tea, coffee, and biscuits are provided.

Want to make a day of it? Book onto our Chemigram workshop taking place on the same day!

1pm-4pm

A chemigram is a cameraless, experimental photographic process developed by Pierre Cordier in the 1950s, combining elements of painting and darkroom chemistry. By applying resists such as wax or oil to light-sensitive paper, you can control how photographic chemicals interact with the surface, creating unpredictable and completely unique results.

In this hands-on workshop, you’ll explore a range of techniques using household materials as resists, working directly onto photographic paper in full light.

You’ll learn how to handle photographic chemistry safely while experimenting with developer, fixer, and water to create a variety of marks, tones, and textures.

There will be time to test different approaches on smaller or expired paper before creating your final pieces. Your work will then be fixed and washed to make it permanent.

You’ll leave the workshop with a selection of experimental test pieces and a finished chemigram print.

No prior knowledge or experience is necessary. All materials are provided. Tea, coffee, and biscuits included. Please wear old clothes.

Want to make a day of it? Book onto our Photogram workshop taking place on the same day!